ALBANY, N.Y. – Senior Chelsea Ryan scored her first career hat trick on Friday night and lifted the Columbia women's soccer team to a 3-0 win over Albany at Bob Ford Stadium. The Lions improved to 3-2-1 on the season behind its second shutout victory of the year.

For the fourth consecutive game, the Lions have held its opponent scoreless in the first half of play. Columbia took an early lead in the opening three minutes of play after Ryan found the back of the net by capitalizing off a penalty kick.

Ryan’s second goal came in the 33rd minute of play from a well-executed corner kick sequence by the Lions. Torie Goode took the corner for Columbia, while teammates Beverly Leon and Natalie Melo made poised plays to pave Ryan’s scoring header. Columbia went on to take a 2-0 lead at halftime over the Great Danes.

In the second half, Ryan would once again extend the lead for the Lions off another corner kick. At the 51st minute mark, Maya Marder found Ryan for her second header and third score of the game. Behind goalkeepr Grace Redmon tallying seven saves in goal and strong defensive back line, Columbia held on to defeat Albany 3-0 to cap a four game road swing.